Persona || Makoharu || Free!

•Threats or Promises•

(A/N~ Makoto is definitely OOC at the end of the chapter, but I hope you still find interest in it! Thank you and enjoy!)

-Makoto's pov-

"Oi, oi! Space cadet Mako-chan back to Earth!-" Nagisa flicks me on the glabella.

"Ow, Nagisa... my head..." I whimper the words and a pout crosses Nagisa lips for only a moment.

"Sorry," Nagisa still smiles, but his features take on a soft apologetic look. "You know Mako-chan," the underclassmen crouches to a squat where he was eye level with me. With a firm grip he snapped open the safety seal of the water he had fetched for the me earlier, "If you feel ill, you should just go home."

I take the water as it is handed to me, gratefully accepting and gulping down almost the entire thing.

I've been neglecting my health recently... what did I have for lunch again?

"I know, I know Nagisa, but I promise, I'm not sick. I think I'm just... just tired. Being a third year is hard you know!" I smile, but Nagisa still looks somewhat unconvinced.

Lucky Rin's voice booms over the pool and interrupts us so I don't have to come up with another excuse, "Alright guys, good job today, lets hit the showers!"

Nagisa runs away when he spots Nitori. I look around for the rest of the Iwatobi team and find Rei desperately trying to coax Haru out of the pool, which is not happening very quickly.

More than anything, I want to go home and curl up in my bed in my dark bedroom. I am so emotionally and physically exhausted and I'm not in the mood to be around people. At least I had been able to take off the duct tape sometime during the day.

I spot Rin and Sousuke talking with each other so I run up to them, "Yamazaki-kun, Matsuoka-kun!"

"Tachibana," Sousuke greets back.

"Seriously, Makoto, I've know you for how many years and you just called me Matsuoka-hun?" Rin teases.

I chuckle, "sorry, I just wanted to thank you for practice, Rin," I say. "I know you don't have too, but I think it really helps us concentrate when we practice together."

"You mean it helps you check out the competition." Rin says with a grin.

I give a weak smile back in return, "We just like to make sure you stay scared of us," I retort. I am trying so hard to keep up the facade, but today is just not a good day and I am afraid that my mask might crack.

"Of course, we're terrified." Rin mocks. I laugh, hoping it sounds real. "You know Makoto, I was thinking," Rin continues. "I know we have a nice space here, but what do you think about us coming to Iwatobi? Maybe not everyone." He says looking around at all the Samazuka guys headed to the locker rooms. "What if we had a relay practice? Maybe we could do some timing exercises? It would just be nice to get the new guys swimming in a different pool so they don't get too comfortable here." I actually crack a real smile. I would like that. Haru would like that.

"Alright, I think I can get Miss. Amakata to agree to that. Maybe next week?" I offer.

"Yeah!" Rin says, looking pleased. "Just let me know when, Makoto."

"MAKOTO-SENPAI PLEASE COME HELP ME HARUKA-SENPAI WON'T COME OUT." Rei's voice echoes across the pool. I have to resist rolling my eyes. I thank Rin again and go help Rei get the stubborn boy out of the water.

~~~~~~~

I am the last person in the locker room. The rest of the Samazuke guys have long since been cleared out and the Iwatobi team is waiting for me in a run down bus Iwatobi let us use.

I look around, making sure I'm truly alone before quickly stripping off my swimsuit. It hurts from ripping off the scabs that had begun to heal from the fast motion.

I grab my underwear and pull it up over my bony hips. I then reach over for my pants, but suddenly I hear feet slapping on the wet concrete and I'm too slow before I hear, "Makoto, are you still here? I have another request for next we-" Rin cuts himself off and goes completely silent when he looks at me.

My skin is red and inflamed from the pool water mixing with my fresh cuts. Many of them are still harsh red lines on my skin and I can feel that they are stinging and bleeding from when I ripped off my suit.

"Makoto, what happened?" Rin asks while I quickly pull my pants on and struggle into my T-shirt.

"Nothing."

"Makoto, I'm not stupid! I know what those are!"

"It's none of your business."

"Like hell it isn't my business!" Rin shouts at me, "It is my damn business when one of my friends is hurting himself!"

Rin would tell...Rin would ruin everything...

"Rin, please don't say anything..." I beg.

"No, Makoto! It's not healthy what you are doing!" Rin starts to scream.

I look down at the floor and lick my lips, "I'll give you one more chance, Rin. Don't tell anybody," I don't know what came over me, but I lean into Rin's body, using my height as an advantage to intimidate him. "You will not tell my team. You will not tell my coach. You will not tell my advisor. You will not tell my parents. Nobody. If you do, I will leave and never come back. Got it?" I ask, darkly.

Rin squints his eyes and nods, "fine, but if you ever need to talk-just-just talk to someone, okay? It could be me or Haru or someone. Just don't do anything stupider than what you are already doing."

I nod and stalk out of the room, guilt and sadness crushing me.